Sooooo..... Was comming home from a ride on my UC Saturday and I had been noticing a bit more vibration than what I would expect when sitting at red lights, even at relatively low idle. I was hearing an intermittant rattle, too. I kept looking down to see if I could figure out what was making the noise, but couldn't spot anything.

Anyway, later that evening I was cleaning the bike in the garage and just generally messing with it. I took the windshield and fairing off to see if there might be something loose in that compartment (and I was also scoping it out to see if it would be practical to mount accent LEDs in the instrument cluster). One of the windshield screws got away from me and bounced in the general direction of the oil cooler, and I could not find it anywhere on the garage floor. I got out the flashlight and a magnetic retriever probe and started poking around the area of the oil cooler, voltage regulator, front of the frame....and as it made contact with the lower left motor mount it stuck. I pulled it away to free it, and, OMG! The bolt came right up with the magnet!

I felt underneath and found that the nut and washer were gone, and investigating further, I found that the right bolt was VERY loose, although the nut and washer were still attached. I have apparently been riding the last couple of months with the front of the engine held in only by the upper mount and the stabilizers.

I tore down the front of the bike (you can't get to the nuts at all without removing the oil cooler and voltage regulator, and the lowers really get in the way too) and proceeded to replace both motor mount nuts with new washers and locknuts (I couldn't get any locktite on the bolts so I used the kind of nuts with nylon inserts). I torqued everything I could reach back down to spec. , including all of the forward engine mount nuts and bolts.

After putting her all back together, the rattle and a significant amount of vibration are gone. I am hoping there was no substantial damage done to the mounts and that nothing else has worked loose as a result of those missing bolts...I have thoroughly looked the bike over and have found no other obvious problems, though.

And to think that a small lost screw led to finding a significant problem! (I never did find the windshield screw....just replaced it with a new one)

Just thought I'd relate that story to remind folks that it's important to check those little unseen things periodically. Ya never know what headaches you might avoid!

Ok, time for a beer!

 

Wow. Good find!

 

What year and how many miles on the bike?

First time I've heard of that.

 

Thank's for the info. I will check the mount on mine tomorrow. I've noticed a bit more vibration last weekend.

 

That's the type of stuff to get me back to doing the "once over" with a rachet set on a much more regular basis. We used to have to do that daily/weekly with bikes, but the newer ones don't need it as much.

I did have an exhaust torqa bolt break off on me this season but had a spare in the garage.

 

Excellent report!!!!! thanks for letting us know. I will also check the motor mounts.

 

Now I asked you if an "at home mechanic" can figure this out....
"I couldn't get any locktite on the bolts so I used the kind of nuts with nylon inserts"...

What the HE!! is wrong with the HD design team, mechanics, part sellers and.......

Oh yea, PART SELLERS, REPAIRS, I get it.....

And how much do we pay for these bikes.....

Ride In Peace

 

Great find indeed.

 

Good find - I have a rattle at idle as well, but no vibration at any speed other than the normal handlebar jump at idle. I am still going to check my motor mount bolts though.

 

I'm sure there is a good word to describe your dumb luck good fortune but can't think of one...

That was an amazing discovery!